NERDS
ON FILM Our old friend
Howard Glassman is still hanging his hat
on the dream that his beloved New York Mets might
one day overcome years of frustration and again
win a World Series. In fact, he’s banking his
reputation on it: Grainbelt, Glassman’s
current musical outlet, provided most of the soundtrack
for Mathematically Alive: A Story of Fandom,
an award-winning film that follows Mets fans through
the 2005 and 2006 baseball seasons, including
the team’s ill-fated run in the 2006 National
League Championship Series. On Friday (March 7)
at 7 PM, the film will receive its Capital Region
premiere at the Linda, WAMC’s Performing Arts
Studio (339 Central Ave., Albany), followed by
a panel discussion and Q&A with the film’s
directors, Joseph Coburn and Katherine
Foronjy. After all of that, Grainbelt will
rock the blues away at Valentine’s (17 New Scotland
Ave., Albany). For info on the events, call the
Linda (465-5233 ext. 4) or Valentine’s (432-6572);
for more on the film, check out mathematicallyalive.com.

FIVE NIGHTS AT THE IMPROV If you’re a musician
looking to expand your horizons, this isn’t a
bad place to start—providing you’re into s’mores
and bug spray and whatnot. Instrumental trio Medeski
Martin & Wood have announced the first
Camp MMW, to be held Aug. 5-10 at the Full
Moon Resort in the Catskills. The trio invite
instrumentalists ages 16 and up to shack up with
them and, hopefully, absorb some greatness (or
develop their own) through a series of master
classes, workshops and jam sessions—not to mention
campfires and meals and other such outdoorsy stuff.
Applications are available at mmw.net/campmmw,
along with pricing (brace yourself) and instructions
and all that good stuff. Space is limited to 80
students, and apps are due by May 1.

DULCET TONES If you’re in search of an educational
musical experience but can’t quite afford to drop
five days (and three months’ rent), this weekend’s
Mountain Dulcimer Music Fest might be your
ticket. The folk festival, which celebrates its
20th anniversary this year, will be held at the
Calvary United Methodist Church in Latham this
Friday and Saturday (March 7-8), and features
a series of workshops and open jams, plus a Saturday-night
concert featuring instructors/performers Susan
Trump, Sue Carpenter and Steve Eulberg.
It’s open to players of all skill levels and,
yes, mountain dulcimer rentals are available.
To register for the festival, or to purchase tickets
to the concert (admission is included with festival
registration), call Lori Keddell at 762-7526 or
visit www.bhsinging.info/daa.

KNOW YOUR ROOTS The folks at Jazz/Latino,
Inc. will present another of their fine educational
programs this weekend, and it looks to be mamboriffic.
(If Rachael Ray can invent words, so can I.) From
Mambo to HipHop is a documentary film
about “musical crosspollination” featuring the
likes of Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri and many
more. The film will be shown this Sunday (March
9) at 4 PM at the Amrose Sable Gallery (306 Hudson
Ave., Albany). A $10 donation is suggested; call
466-9990 for more info.

—John
Brodeur

Let
us know about local-music news and happenings
for inclusion in Rough Mix: E-mail John Brodeur
at jbrodeur@metroland .net or call (518) 463-2500
ext. 145.